Star Wars C-3PO replica will sell for $9,000 in US props auction

The brilliant life-size model of Star Wars' C-3PO was produced by Master Replicas

He was one of the most beloved characters from the entire Star Wars saga, and now collectors have the chance to own a life-size replica of C-3PO.

The original C-3PO model is owned by Disneyland and displayed on its Star Tours ride

The incredibly detailed six foot, two inchmodel is being sold as part of a Hollywood auction of film props and memorabilia, to be held September 15-16.

The model of everyone's favourite protocol droid was created by Master Replicas, a company founded in 2001 by collectibles industry veterans who share a passion for rare props and replicas. Working directly with director George Lucas' production company Lucasfilm,it hascreated undoubtedly the most detailed and realistic Star Wars replicas ever to appear on the market.

Unfortunately,the company's Star Wars licence ran out in 2008, making the most sought after of its collectibles even scarcer, warranting an estimate of $8,000-9,000 for C-3PO.

Insultingly, a replica of his companion R2D2 has been given an estimate of just $500-700 - one that is shared by the despised Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. A replica ofthe iconic Stormtrooper has a more fitting estimate at $7,000-8,000.

For those with a more modest budget, there will also be three lots of 35mm film clips from Star Wars: A New Hope. Each lot of 90 four-frame strips contains various scenes from the film, with the majority from the Cantina sequence, Luke's Jedi training on the Millenium Flacon and Princess Leia's capture on the Death Star. Showing slight reddening due to age, each lot is valued at $200-300.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has three pieces of Krayt Dragon bone for sale, which can be seen during C-3PO's trek in the Dune Sea in Star Wars: A New Hope - a superb and extremely rare original prop from the 1977 classic that changed the world.